SCOTS AUTO SCENE ISSUE 97

Written on October 21, 2013 at 5:28 pm

Manbat – Effective Battery Management That Saves Money

Of all the components that come together to make up the vehicles that travel the length and breadth of the country on a daily basis, the battery is arguably the least understood and the most commonly overlooked. As a general rule, providing the battery starts the vehicle, the common assumption, even among experienced technicians, is that it’s ‘okay’.

However, the evidence from surveys carried out by both the AA and Which? point to the fact that all is not well with this assumption because they found that battery failure is in fact the number one cause of vehicle breakdown in the UK. Moreover, far from being confined to the open road, battery failure can even occur in the workshop during the vehicle’s service or repair!

As part of its on-going commitment to its customers to provide them with more than simply a replacement battery service, Manbat, the UK’s largest automotive and commercial vehicle battery distributor and leading battery management specialist Rozone, have joined forces to raise awareness of the problem and point out the benefits that efficient battery management can bring to motorists, fleet operators and workshops alike.

“A great way to look at it,” says Manbat’s Myles Pemberton “is to consider a vehicle entering a workshop with a flat tyre. There is no way that the vehicle would leave the premises in the same condition because for one thing it is a sales opportunity, but more to the point, it’s an obviously visual problem!

“Batteries, in contrast, pose an altogether different challenge. As they look the same whether fully charged or completely discharged, there is not the visual fall back there is with tyres or indeed for many other components. However, the vast majority of roadside battery failures could be prevented through the correct management of the vehicle’s batteries.

“By taking a couple of minutes to check the battery’s state of charge for example, a technician is able to assess its condition and take the necessary remedial action, which could simply be to fully charge the battery, make an adjustment to the system or rectify a more serious fault. Either way, they could ultimately prevent a costly roadside breakdown and provide a welcome sales opportunity.”

Did You Know?
Two out of three vehicles entering the workshop will have a battery that requires attention, whether it just needs charging or complete replacement. In addition, up to 80% of battery failures are a result of poor maintenance or ‘sulphation’, which is caused by sustained low battery voltage (12.4-volts or less) over prolonged periods and results in the build up of crystals on the lead plates in the battery and reduces its performance and service life.

Batteries left without maintenance lose 0.1-volts every month, which increases two-fold during winter and even used regularly, an alternator will often not fully recover the power taken from the battery, through everyday use. However, regular mains charging will increase and prolong the “serviceable” life of the average battery by two years or more

How Can Manbat Help?
Manbat will work alongside its customers to not only identify and supply the most suitable battery from its portfolio of VARTA®, Lucas or Numax, but will also determine the best battery management programme to support the purchase.

Manbat customers using these programmes are achieving significant increases in battery efficiencies and the subsequent reduction in costs that are associated with battery and electrical system failures.

Conclusion
“Replacement batteries represent a significant cost to the motorist, so workshops want to ensure that they supply a quality product that’s up to the job. However, without an on-going battery management programme in place, they are not protecting their investment or ensuring they get the best return on it.

“By contrast, customers initiating a battery management programme are not only supplying the high quality products their customers need, but are working in the most pro-active way possible and ensuring they maximise the long-term efficiency and cost-effectiveness of their batteries,” concludes Pemberton.